One of the community-enhancement features we've been discussing is user-created groups.  I thought I'd collect some feedback from the community here and what you guys would like to see.

The rough implementation we're looking at here goes something like this, depending on what ioi can code:

A group is created with a certain name when a user applies through a new tool.  Fields will include the group name, a description, and various options, and that member will become the group admin.  One of the staff will look it over and generally accept it as long as it isn't a duplicate or vulgar, etc.  Each group gets a single forum for discussion.

Some options for the groups:

• Publically listed or private:  whether or not the group name/description/admin is displayed in a list of groups on the site.
• Invite-only or anyone can join:  whether or not a user can join any public group or has to be invited.  Private groups are always invite-only, of course.  May also look at options such as "only users with ## posts can join".
• Open/closed forum:  whether or not someone has to be a member of the group in order to view/post in the forum.  Invite-only groups always have closed forums.

Group admin abilities:

• Mark some number of group members as moderators, or remove such moderators.
• Delete the group.
• Change settings for the group.

Admin/moderator abilities:

• Forum moderator type tasks:  Edit posts, lock/sticky threads
• Invite/remove members (available even for "anyone can join" groups)

Other random details:

• If a group admin is permabanned, the first moderator becomes the group admin.  If there are no moderators, group is deleted.
• Users can choose to leave any group at any time, whether it is open or invite-only.
• Forum rules would generally not apply to closed forums (they do apply in full to open forums however).  However, keep in mind that at the least, ioi and probably myself would have read-access to all group forums and you probably wouldn't want to upset us anyway. ;)  Group admin/mods will be responsible for running their forum as they see fit.  However, any illegal activity would of course still be prohibited.
• Open forums would not actually be listed on the forums page (to minimize the clutter), but could be accessed by looking up the particular group, and the open forum page could be bookmarked.
• Similarly posts in group forums would not be displayed in the hot topics.
• Posting history will not include posts in closed forums, but will include those in open forums.  The panel with your own forum posts *will* include your posts in closed forums, though if you have since been removed from or quit the group you won't be able to access the post/forum.

The idea is to allow those who want semi-private discussion to do so here, while also allowing for more specific forums on a particular topic (who wants to head up the "I Blame Wii Fit" group?).  Any additional suggestions on functionality or implemention, or other comments/discussion, put it here, or don't complain if you don't like the final product. ;)

You are doing this because of the Brawl thread, right?

I call the Ninjabread Man group.

^probably not, it could be for formation of clans and such

There must be a Ninjabread Man group.

I want to be a member of the 'La Resistance' group.

There are, to say the least, a number of potential uses for such a feature, with the limitations hopefully only in one's own imagination.

Talking about it...Are you a member of some factions on gametrailers Soriku?

I am at the Final Fantasy faq over there and in fact their are a lot of people who could help you with your FF games questions :).

The only thing I would really like to see insisted on is not allowing discussion of members in closed forums. If you allow people to talk about others behind their back then it will only lead to trouble and probably major headaches for the mods.

 You think people are not doing this already with PM's?